Illicit manufacture of methamphetamine, primarily in pill form (yaba), continues, particularly in the Shan, Wa, and Kokang autonomous region.

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1 Myanmar Myanmar Overview of drug use The main drugs of use in Myanmar during the past decade have been heroin which is primarily injected and opium which is primarily smoked. Prevalence estimates vary, but the number of opioid users are likely in the hundreds of thousands (UNODC, 24). Emerging in the mid-199s, methamphetamine has become a prominent drug of concern. Since 24, methamphetamine has ranked third in terms of use behind the two leading drugs. Since 25, methamphetamine has accounted for about a quarter of all drug related arrests, while heroin and opium together have accounted for more than half. A survey in 25 conducted by the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) among high school students in the towns of Tamu, Muse, Tachilek, Myawaddy and Kawthaung indicates low lifetime prevalence rates for this sub-population of youth. With the exception of cough syrups, drug use prevalence was less than 2%. However, the survey points out that results may have been higher had the survey been expanded to include the significant number of youth who did not attend high school. Illicit manufacture of methamphetamine, primarily in pill form (yaba), continues, particularly in the Shan, Wa, and Kokang autonomous region. The political situation in Myanmar in 29 is unsettled, with open hostilities between government and ethnic groups previously under cease fire agreement. This instability could affect the current illicit drug production and trafficking dynamics in the region. There is a likelihood that these changing conditions will serve as a push factor for increasing the trafficking of illicit drugs and could result in the relocation of clandestine manufacturing sites across the border. Also, the areas along the Lao PDR and Cambodia border could experience increased trafficking activity with the possibility that clandestine lab operations may be established in these areas. Patterns and trends of drug use The ranking of the three leading drugs of use in Myanmar was the same in 28 as the previous two years, with heroin ranked as the primary drug of choice, followed by opium and methamphetamine in pill form. Cannabis was ranked fourth in 28, the same as the preceding year. Unlike other drugs, only methamphetamine use has been reported increasing for the entire six year period from (Tables 67, 68 and 69). Heroin use has been reported to be on a decreasing trend, while cannabis and opium have remained largely stable. Table 67. Reported trend in drug use in Myanmar, 28 Drug used in the past year Rank Drug use trend Main route of administration Heroin 1 Injected Opium 2 Smoked Methamphetamine pills/tablets 3 Smoked Cannabis 4 Table 68. Rank of use of specific drugs in Myanmar, Drug type Heroin Methamphetamine pills/tablets

2 Drug type Cannabis Table 69. Trend in use of specific drugs in Myanmar, Drug type Heroin Methamphetamine (pills/tablets) Cannabis Global SMART 29 Arrest, seizure and price data The number of drug related arrests reported in Myanmar in 28 is shown in Table 87. The number of arrests increased to 3,359 in 28 compared to 3,74 in 27. More than 8% of arrests were related to heroin, methamphetamine pills and opium. Heroin accounted for 31% of arrests, a decrease from 36% in 27. Arrests related to methamphetamine pills increased from 24% in 27 to 28% in 28, while 23% of arrests were related to opium in 28 compared to 22% in 27 (Figure 43). In 28, 2% of drug-related arrestees were female, the same proportion as the previous year (Table 7). ATS-related arrests have largely mirrored the trend for heroin between 23 and 27 and a similar number of arrests were made for each of the two drugs in 28. However, in 28 heroin-related arrests declined, while ATS-related arrests increased (Figure 44). Table 7. Drug related arrests in Myanmar, 28 National and non-national Drug type Male Female Methamphetamine (pills/tablets) Crystalline methamphetamine Methamphetamine powder 1 1 Ecstasy Total Heroin ,4 Opium Low grade opium Cannabis herb Speciosa Total* 2, ,359 87

3 Myanmar Figure 43. Drug related arrests in Myanmar by drug type, 28 Cannabis herb Speciosa Low grade opium 7% 4% Methamphetamine 7% pills 28% 5% Opium 23% 77% Heroin 31% Ecstasy <1% Figure 44. ATS and heroin related arrests in Myanmar, ,8 1,6 Number of arrest s 1,4 1,2 1, ATS Heroin The quantity of methamphetamine pills seized in 28 declined to 1.1 million pills compared to the 1.6 million the previous year. Both years showed a huge decline compared to the 19.1 million pills seized in 26 (Table 71 and Figure 45). However, preliminary data suggest that seizures of methamphetamine pills are increasing in 29 with over 4.5 million pills seized in the first two quarters. An estimated 2 million pills were seized in March in one case alone in Kengtung in Eastern Myanmar while on route to the border town of Tachilek (CCDAC, 29). It is uncertain whether the political situation in Myanmar in 29 as reflected in conflict between the government and certain ethnic groups may serve as a catalyst for an increase in illicit trafficking. However, one indication that this may be the case is an increase in recent illicit drug seizures in Myanmar which is coinciding with increasing seizures in neighbouring countries. 88

4 Figure 45. Primary methamphetamine trafficking routes in the Greater Mekong Subregion Global SMART 29 The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the UN. Source: UNODC (28), Amphetamines and Ecstasy - 28 Global ATS Assessment and Office of the Narcotlcs Control Board (29). ATS Situation of Thailand, Global SMART Programme Workshop presentation, Bangkok, Thailand, July and CCDAC (29) Country Presentation, 32nd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, 1-13 February 29 Crystalline methamphetamine seizures increased in 28 to 14.4 kg from 3.4 kg seized the in 27. However, this amount is miniscule compared to 28.3 kg seized in 25, 415 kg seized in 22 and the peak seizure of 518 kg in 21 (Figure 45). The total amount of heroin seizures have fallen since 24 and 25 when kg and kg respectively were seized. In comparison, the quantities for the last two years were, 68.4 kg in 27 and 88.2 kg in 28. The declining trend changed, however, in July 29 when a large seizure of 955 kg of high grade heroin, together with 34, methamphetamine pills, was made in Tachilek on the South-Eastern border of Myanmar, opposite Chaing Rai province in Thailand (CCDAC, 29). Opium seizures have fluctuated between 23 and 28. However, recently the quantity of high grade opium seizures increased by 24.6% in 28 to 1,463 kg compared to 1,174 kg the year before. The decline in heroin seizures and increase in opium seizures may be attributed to a higher degree of intermediate levels of refined opium being seized. Table 71. Illicit drug seizures in Myanmar, Drug type (measure) Methamphetamine (pills/ tablets) 4,, 8,379,31 3,651,55 19,65,674 1,666,141 1,12,199 Crystalline methamphetamine (kg) Methamphetamine powder (kg)** Ecstasy Heroin (kg) Opium, high grade (kg) 1, ,321. 1, ,463.4 Opium, low grade (kg) , , ,452.8 Opium oil (kg) Cannabis (kg) * 72.9* Benzodiazepine pills 173, ,612 *Combined herb and resin. ** Primarily seized in intermidiate form, prior to being pressed as pills Source: DAINAP 89

5 Myanmar Figure 46. Methamphetamine seizures in Myanmar, 2-28 Number of methampethamine pills 35,, 3,, 25,, 2,, 15,, 1,, 5,, 2 Methampethamine pills Methampethamine powder(kg) Crystalline methampethamine (kg) Crystalline methampethamine and poder (kg) Source: CCDAC data cited in Patterns and Trends in ATS and Other Drugs of Abuse, 27; DAINAP (24-28) Few ATS laboratories are ever reported dismantled, a number which has been declining since the peak of 1 in 26 (Figure 48). Ephedrine seizures have declined sharply since 21, with the exception of 26 in which 1,284 kg were seized. However, the number of cases involving ephedrine has increased from 4 in 26 to 23 in 28 (Figure 47). The number of heroin refineries seized has remained stable in with 8 seized for each of the three years. During the same period, 16 ATS manufacturing facilities were dismantled (Figure 48). The total number of seizures of acetic anhydride have decreased since 21 with a stable level of around 1, litres being seized annually since 24. Figure 47. Total ephedrine cases and seizures in Myanmar, Seizures (kg) 7, 25 6, 2 5, 4, 15 3, 1 2, 5 1, , 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 2,7 Figure 48. Total number of heroin refineries and ATS manufacturing facilities destroyed in Myanmar, Heroin refineries ATS manufacturing facilities and tabletting operation ,8 Number of Cases Ephedrine seizures (kg) Cases Source: CCDAC data cited in Patterns and Trends in ATS and Other Drugs of Abuse, 27; DAINAP (24-28) Number of laboratorie/refinerie s Source: CCDAC data cited in Patterns and Trends in ATS and Other Drugs of Abuse, 27; DAINAP (24-28) Treatment data Only data from Government-sponsored compulsory treatment centers are reported to DAINAP. Of these, the vast majority of drug treatment admissions in Myanmar in 28 were for heroin and opium, account- 9

6 ing for 599 and 35 admissions, respectively, and representing 97.4% of total admissions. The proportion of heroin IDUs was reported as 72% of total heroin admissions and were not reported for any other illicit drug. Only 21 individuals were admitted for methamphetamine dependence (2%) and 4 were admitted for cannabis use. The average age has remained stable over the past three years at 25 years for heroin and methamphetamine and 29 years for opium. The main route of administration for opium was smoking, but injection also was reported. Methamphetamine was primarily smoked and swallowed. The preponderance of treatment admissions in 28 were male (Table 9). Table 72. Drug treatment admissions in Myanmar, 28 New admissions Drug Type Male Female Total Average age %IDUs Methamphetamine Heroin Opium Cannabis Global SMART 29 Total admissions Drug Type Male Female Total Average age %IDUs Methamphetamine Heroin Opium Cannabis HIV/AIDS and injecting drug use data A recent estimate of injecting drug use prevalence in the population between years of age in Myanmar was between.18% and.27% of the population, which represents about 6, to 9, individuals. The HIV prevalence among IDUs has been estimated to be very high at 42.6% (Lancet, 28). Summary, emerging trends and concerns Methamphetamine ranks third in drugs of use, however increased use is indicated every year since 23. Methamphetamine seizures declined by 34% in 28 compared to the previous year, while heroin seizures increased by 29%. Preliminary data from the first two quarters of 29 suggest that trafficking is increasing for both methamphetamine pills and heroin. The number of arrests for methamphetamine related violations is approaching that of heroin, the traditional leader, with 31% of arrests related to heroin in 28 and 28% related to methamphetamine pills. 91